Apparatus for forming a fold-over soft center-filled confection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope having a soft candy center. The apparatus of the invention includes a forming nose over which a rectangular sheet of candy is passed to form a continuous, hollow, substantially cylindrical outer layer of candy. A frustoconical extruder attached to the lower surface of the forming nose is provided for extruding a soft candy. A frustoconical extruder attached to the lower surface of the forming nose is provided for extruding a soft candy into the hollow portion of the cylindrical outer layer of candy as it is being formed by the forming nose. The combination of candy exterior and soft candy center is then passed through a forming chute which imparts to the confectionary a desired cross-sectional geometry.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by U.S. Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for forming a confectionary rope with a soft center from an exterior layer of candy having a continuous rectangular shape, comprising: a forming nose having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface configured to cause said continuous rectangularly-shaped exterior layer to take on a cylindrical configuration to form a continuous outer layer of confectionary mass flowing in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape; and   extruding means arranged in spaced relationship with the lower surface of the forming nose for extruding a soft confectionary mass into the center of the cylindrically-shaped outer layer of confectionary mass formed by the forming nose.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 1, wherein the extruding means comprises a generally frustoconical extruder. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 2, wherein the generally frustoconical extruder is connected to the forming nose to simultaneously extrude the soft candy mass into the outer layer of candy mass as the other layer is formed into a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 2, wherein the extruding means further comprises a feed tube connected to the frustoconical extruder for providing a continuous flow of soft candy mass to the frustoconical extruder. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center in defined as claim 1, further comprising forming means for imparting to the confectionary rope a predetermined cross-sectional geometry. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 5, wherein the forming means comprises a plurality of rollers. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 6, wherein the plurality of rollers comprises four rollers, each configured with a quarter circular concave geometry such that when the confectionary rope is passed between the rollers, a cylindrical geometry is imparted to the confectionary rope. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 6, wherein the forming means further comprises a forming chute for directing the confectionary rope into the plurality of rollers. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding the continuous outer layer of candy mass over the upper surface of the forming nose. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 9, wherein the guide means comprises two arms. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 1, further comprising delivering means for delivering the continuous outer layer of candy mass to the forming nose. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope with a soft center as defined in claim 11, wherein the delivering means comprises a conveyor belt. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for forming a confectionary rope with a soft center from an exterior layer of candy having a continuous rectangular shape, comprising: a forming nose having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface configured to cause said continuous rectangularly-shaped exterior layer to take on a cylindrical configuration to form a continuous outer layer of candy mass flowing in a continuous hollow cylinder shape; and   a generally frustoconical extruder arranged in spaced relationship with the lower surface of the forming nose for extruding a soft candy mass into the hollow portion of the cylinder while the cylinder is being formed to completely fill the hollow portion of the cylinder with the soft candy center.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 13, further comprising forming means for imparting to the confectionary rope a predetermined cross-sectional geometry. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 14, further comprising guide means for guiding the continuous outer layer of candy mass over the upper surface of the forming nose. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 15, further comprising delivering means for delivering the continuous outer layer of candy mass to the forming nose. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 16, wherein the forming means comprises a plurality of rollers. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 17, wherein the plurality of rollers comprises four rollers, each configured with a quarter circular concave geometry such that when the confectionary rope is passed between the rollers, a cylindrical geometry is imparted unto the confectionary rope. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 18, wherein the forming means further comprises a forming chuted for directing the confectionary rope into the plurality of rollers. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 19, wherein the guide means comprises two arms. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionary rope as defined in claim 20, wherein the delivering means comprises a conveyor belt.